Impact of microcystin contaminated water on quality of carrots (Daucuscarota)

Machado, J.; Azevedo, J.; Freitas, Marisa; Pinto, Edgar; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Campos, Alexandre

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/26051

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Abstract(s)

Cyanobacteria blooms are often found in freshwaters and may reflect the increased eutrophication of these environments and because of this many water resources worldwide may have a limited utilization. The presence of these microorganisms may pose a serious threat to water quality because many of them produce a large diversity of toxins that can be harmful to human health (Figueiredo et a l., 2004). On the other hand contaminated waters used to agricultural purposes may pose additional concerns to food safety. The absorption of toxins by plants may induce morphological and physiological changes that can lead to a loss of productivity as well as toxin bioaccumulation in edible tissues. However, the impact of cyanotoxins on plants and its ability to enter the food chain via this pathway is not fully understood (Kitleret al ., 2012). Microcystin (MC) is the cyanotoxin most frequently present in eutrophic freshwaters causing serious problems to human health, being the liver the main target. These toxins are potent and specific inhibitors of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2Ain both animals and higher plants (Figueiredo et al., 2004). It is known that MC affect a number of physiological processes in plants (Corbel et al ., 2013). The plant root system is usually more exposed, via soil irrigation, and therefore root-vegetables more prone to contamination. Carrots (Daucuscarota) are root-vegetables with great importance for human nourishment and economy, with extensive use all over the world (Singh et al ., 2012).

Keywords

Cyanobacteria Cyanotoxin

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/26051

Citation

Machado, J., Azevedo, J., Freitas, M., Pinto, E., Vasconcelos, V., & Campos, A. (2014). Impact of microcystin contaminated water on quality of carrots (Daucuscarota). ICEH14 /3rd International Congress of Environmental Health: Proceedings Book, 1, 263–264.